Kingston, 26 July 2021 – “The Festival Song is back!” declared the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, after the successful staging of the 2021 competition.

The Minister was beaming with satisfaction after the final show and the announcement of the winner live on national television and online.

“A woman has won and what’s interesting… a Dancehall song, a really hardcore Dancehall song has won,” said the Minister as she reflected on this year’s competition.

As was the case last year, the 2021 competition had to be a virtual affair because of restrictions on gatherings to prevent the spread of covid-19.

Despite the absence of road shows across the country to introduce the Jamaica Festival Song finalists, Minister Grange said there was still a very good response to the competition which relied on public vote to determine the winner.

The thousands of people who voted via mobile networks and on the Reggae Jamaica app over a two week period chose the Dancehall artiste, Stacious, with her song titled, ‘Jamaican Spirit’ to be the winner.

“Yes, one for the books, and I’m really happy about that,” said Stacious after being presented with the winner’s trophy and cash prize of three million dollars to be shared among singer, song writer and producer.

Stacious’ song doesn’t sound like the typical Festival Song and the lyrics are different as well. The singer says that’s the point:

“I definitely wanted to come outside of the box. I never wanted to talk about the usual food, the beaches — we know how Jamaica is beautiful. I wanted to pay homage to the real truth behind Jamaica — what makes Jamaica, Jamaica is the people. We are the most creative, the most resilient… we’re just a whole vibe, we’re a mood, we walk into a room [and] everything changes. And I just wanted to celebrate that and pat all of my fellow Jamaicans on the back and say ‘hey, we survived a very hard year [and] we have further to go’”

Minister Grange, who has been working to revitalise and refresh the Jamaica Festival Song competition, said Spacious’ victory will enhance those efforts.

Minister Grange said:
“Stacious’ win will bring in the young people. It will bring in the grassroots people. It will bring in the hardcore dancehall communities. It will make a difference. And with the involvement of I-Octane and Tamo J, we have finally been able to make the Festival Song competition appeal to everybody.

[The Jamaica Festival Song competition] truly reflects the culture because even the genres tonight reflected the different types of Jamaican music…We were able to reach out to Jamaicans and the diversity of the Jamaican society and music.

I would say Festival Song is back and all set for the Diamond Jubilee next year when we celebrate our 60th anniversary [of Independence].”

For the first time, this year there was a ‘Best Performer Award’ which went to dancer turned singer ‘DB’ who also finished second in the popular vote with ‘Love Jamaica My Land’.

Tamo J placed third with his Dancehall song ‘Real Talk (Jamrock)’.

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Kingston, 24 July 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has released the following statement at the passing of Hugh Nash, the former Chairman and Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.

Minister’s Statement

“I am deeply saddened at the news of the passing of Mr. Hugh Nash, former Executive Director and Chairman of the JCDC. Nicknamed ‘Mr. Festival’ for his work in positioning the Jamaica Festival movement and cultural development at the centre of national development, Nash was a true Jamaican patriot whose energy and commitment to nation-building knew no bounds as he gave tireless service to this the land of his birth.

Mr. Nash was invited by then Minister of Planning and Development, the late former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, to develop a document to ensure that culture would play an integral role in the upliftment of the lives of the Jamaican working class. Out of this emerged the Jamaica Festival Commission. When the name was changed to the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, he again led the charge to develop the organisation.

He was one of those humble souls who knew only to give his all to care for the working people of Jamaica.

Mr. Nash was instrumental in the organisation of Things Jamaica through which Jamaican craftsmen, women and artisans received support for development, trade and export.

He also helped to establish the Jamaica National Heritage Trust when its name was changed from National Trust Commission.

The achievements of Hugh Nash in national cultural development were anchored in deep knowledge and appreciation for the working class people of Jamaica whom he saw as creators and guardians of our history and culture. He learnt it all by traversing the villages in his parish Manchester, talking and interacting with the people, while cultivating the management and administrative acumen that reflected his leadership of national cultural development.

With Hugh Nash’s passing, Jamaica has lost a great son, cultural icon and tradition bearer, management and leadership expert.

Mr. Nash never said no to any call to serve his beloved Jamaica. He will be sorely missed.

I say to his family: you have given to Jamaica a cultural powerhouse to whom our nation is grateful. May you take comfort in his service to our country.”

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Kingston, 14 July 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that the sport sector will benefit directly from vaccines now in the island and from more which will come in tomorrow.

The Sport Minister said:

“Six Hundred doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine have come as donation through the efforts of the former coach of the Reggae Girls, Mr Hugh Menzies, and 300 more doses will arrive in the island tomorrow through the efforts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith and the Chairman of the National Health Fund, Mr Howard Mitchell.

These vaccines are specifically for the use of the sport sector and I really want to thank Mr Menzies for securing the 600 doses primarily for the Jamaica Premier League.

I am happy to report that the majority of athletes going to the Tokyo Olympics have been vaccinated with only a small number who has not been. Now with the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, all can be fully vaccinated before going off to Japan. Athletes who are not vaccinated will be treated differently in Tokyo from those who are and this could negatively affect their activities.

Those who are not yet vaccinated know themselves and I know them too and so I am reaching out and making a special appeal to them to get their jab.”

Meantime, Mr Mitchell said he was pleased that the NHF was able to contribute to the vaccines being available by facilitating customs clearance.

Arrangements are in place for vaccinations to start at the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, University of the West Indies, tomorrow, July 15, at 1:30 p.m.

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Kingston, 8 July 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced major changes to the gospel song component of the annual Jamaica Festival.

“Whereas in the past it was the Jamaica Gospel Song competition, this year it is the Jamaica Gospel Star competition,” said Minister Grange.

She said the format of the competition has changed.

Unlike its predecessor, which focused on finalists performing and building momentum for their original song, the Jamaica Gospel Star Competition will see contestants performing cover songs in two weekly televised performance shows.

“Through those performances, vocals, and how they’re able to capture their audience — that is how we will choose the star of gospel for 2021. “We’re looking for that star.”

The 10 finalists for the Jamaica Gospel Star competition include Daynea Deacon Jones who won the Gospel Song Competition in 2018, Mirriam Hibbert who was the runner-up in 2012, Kaydene Smith who was runner-up in 2010 and 2020 as part of the groups ‘Servants’ and ‘Euphoria’ respectively, and Daron Mitchell who was finished 3rd in 2019.

Former National Children’s Gospel winners Kevin Melbourne and Erica Lumsden are also among the Jamaica Gospel Star finalists which are completed by Raheim Betty, Latanya Elliot, Carlington Watson and Malika James.

Minister Grange said “the finalists will be promoted through 4 shows on CVM television. The public will be able to vote for each contestant and through the number of votes polled the Jamaica Gospel Star will be selected.”

The Acting Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Marjorie Leyden-Kirton said “We’re very excited about our first Jamaica Gospel Star Competition. We have high expectations of these experienced and talented finalists who were selected from more than 100 entries. They will bless the nation with their performances.”

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Kingston, 7 July 2021 – The songs vying to become the Jamaica Festival Song for 2021 are now available for download and streaming on the major music streaming services including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora and Spotify.

The album — Jamaica Festival 2021 Song Competition — with the 12 finalists went live on the weekend.

It’s the second year that the finalists in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition are being exposed on global streaming platforms as part of plans by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, to revitalise the annual Jamaica Festival.

Last year’s Jamaica Festival Song finalists were streamed on 30 digital platforms across the world and Minister Grange says there are plans to add other platforms this year.

The 12 finalists are:

Minister Grange said:

“These 12 songs will get maximum exposure on the digital platforms and then the public will be able to vote to determine the winning song.  They’re gonna vote across service providers and also on the Reggae Jamaica app where, particularly members of the Diaspora will be able to poll their votes.”

The Reggae Jamaica app is available for iOs and Android devices.

The voting options are now open.

The finalists will perform in two televised shows to be aired on TVJ and social media on July 15 and 22.

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Kingston, 29 June 2021 – The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission has completed the process of selecting the finalists for the Jamaica Festival Song Competition for 2021.

The selection panel, led by Chief Judge Donovan Germain, has selected 12 finalists, instead of the customary 10, for the professional competition which is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said "the 12 finalists represent a wide cross-section of genres that will appeal to a wide audience. We want the winning song to be on the lips of every man, woman and child this Independence and beyond.”

The 12 finalists for the 2021 Jamaica Festival Song Competition are:

Minister Grange said she was “very pleased that so many outstanding performers, writers and producers have entered the Jamaica Festival Song Competition this year; and that three women were among the finalists.” She said the growing interest in the competition was the result of “a deliberate and strategic initiative to revitalise the annual Jamaica Festival”.

The chairman of the Jamaica Festival Song committee of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Orville Hill, said “this group of finalists represents a great mix of emerging and experienced talent that will be on display for the Jamaican people.”

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition is the only professional competition staged as part of Jamaica Festival.

The top 12 songs in this year’s competition will be available for purchase and streaming on 30 digital platforms across the world.

The winning song will receive a prize of three million dollars to be shared among the producer, the writer and the singer. Other prizes will be announced.

Again, the public will be asked to select the winning song through telephone voting. Each finalist has been assigned a voting line on the Digicel network, however Flow customers will be able to vote as well. Voting will begin on July 5.

In the absence of island-wide road shows, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has engaged national radio and television stations as well as social media to bring the finalists and their entries to the public. TVJ will broadcast two virtual shows with the finalists on July 15 and 22.

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition is sponsored by the CHASE Fund, Digicel and the Jamaica Biscuit Company.

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Kingston 10, June 2021 (JIS) - The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission is now 95 per cent digitised in its processes.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, gave this update during her 2021/2022 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on June 8.

“Our efforts at modernising the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission are bearing fruit. For the first time this year, the Commission will accept entries for its various competitions leading up to Jamaica Festival in a completely digital form,” Minister Grange said.

“Additionally, we are investing in an e-commerce platform for the JCDC’s website where it will be able to sell products to support its operations,” she added. 

The Minister noted that the Government has invested heavily in the Commission’s live-stream capability to the point where it is now beginning to earn revenue from streams of various activities of the JCDC and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

“We have [also] put the necessary processes in place to enable the JCDC, for the first time, to have the entries in its Festival Song Competition available for purchase and streaming on 30 digital platforms across the world. The JCDC is now earning royalties, and the competitors are now earning royalties and we are now compliant, as we should be, with the music industry,” she said.

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Kingston, 20 May 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that she is deeply saddened that, “we are once again mourning the passing of one of Jamaica's truly great sportsmen.”


Minister Grange's comment follows the death of Olympian, Neville Myton, who passed this week, a few days short of the 75th anniversary of his birthday which would have been on May 28.


Minister Grange said:
"Middle distance runner, Neville Myton, who hailed from Old Harbour Bay in St Catharine, was regarded by many as the greatest school boy athlete produced by Jamaica, representing the country at the 1964 Olympics while still attending Excelsior High School.


"Neville was famous for the records he created from very early in his career. As he set records at several meets, he became the first Jamaican Junior Record Holder in 1964 when he ran 880 yards in 47.2 seconds, a record that still stands. He was also the first high school athlete to win an open event at the Penn Relays.

"He represented his country at two Olympics, at the Commonwealth Games and at the Pan American Games. He was a double gold medallist at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games.


"We must note that Neville's stellar contribution to sports continued long after his days on the track. He went on to coach and mentor several of Jamaica's top athletes including Veronica Campbell Brown, Simone Facey and Shereefa Lloyd.


"But his depth and versatility also saw Neville successfully coaching schoolboy cricket and football in addition to track and field. Vere Technical High School, Tivoli Gardens High School and Old Harbour High School benefitted from his vast knowledge and direction as a coach. Managing the Jamalco Sports Club also formed part of his formidable contribution to sports.


"It is not surprising that Jamaica honoured him with the award of the Order of Distinction in 2006 and that in 2016, he was inducted into Hall of Fame of San Jose State University, which he attended and where he never lost a half-mile event.


“As Minister of Sport, I wish to extend to Neville's wife Paulette and the rest of his family, my sincerest condolences. To the track and field fraternity in particular and sports people in general, I also express my sympathy.


“With the passing of Neville Myton, a track and field icon is gone from us but there is already much evidence that his legacy will live on.


“Rest in peace, Neville.”

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Kingston, 23 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that sadly the race of life is finished for Dennis Johnson and the nation must say goodbye to its first world record holder in the short sprint.

Dennis Johnson, passed away on Thursday night, April 22, 2021, at the age of 81.

Minister Grange said:

“He never set a world record. But, in a six-week period in 1961 he equaled the 100-yards world record on all of three occasions. This was but one measure of the man Dennis Johnson, who was honoured with the Order of Distinction in 2001.

“The passing of Dennis has closed the chapter on one who made an iconic contribution to the development of track and field in Jamaica not only as a sprinter himself but also through his efforts to develop other sprinters to world class standards right here at home. It was the genesis that changed us from the thinking that our athletes had to go abroad to become the best that they could.

“It is with irony, that we recall that it was the then Principal of the College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Dr Rae Davis, who himself died a few days ago, who invited Dennis to establish a collegiate sports programme at the institution.

 “The records show Dennis as serving as the first director of sports at CAST which later became the University of Technology, Chairman of the Sports Advisory Council, adjunct associate professor of sport science and head of the special projects for intercollegiate sports.

“His work at UTech as an administrator and coach has come to be regarded as a fundamental contributing factor to Jamaica’s consistent top performances in world sprinting.

"As I express my condolences to Dennis’ sons Peter and Johnny and his daughter Dawn, his friends and associates as well as the track and field community, I must also say how disappointed I feel that Dennis did not live to see the documentary on his life that has been commissioned by my Ministry to be produced by Clyde McKenzie, media and entertainment specialist.

“Dennis was a jovial, sharp witted person, who thought the only thing that he could do better than sprinting was to play dominoes. He was well liked and will be missed not just in sport circles but by the many who knew him or learnt of his exploits.

“Your record on the track has its own very special place in the history of track and field in Jamaica, Dennis Johnson. Rest in peace.”

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